Updated at 3:30 Wednesday with the Green Living Fayre (bottom of post)
Just because fall is coming doesn't mean it's getting any cooler outside. I'm ready for August to be over; I think it's just the "school time" anxiety of having spent something like 20 years going to school of some sort; there's just a feeling of "getting it over with" at this time of year. It's inexplicable, especially considering how many years I've been out of school, but nonetheless, I always have a feeling of blah around this time of year. Fortunately, it's almost September. Event though I consider myself a Summer convert, and usually eschew all forms of quash at the farmer's markets until at least October, this year I think I'm ready. I'm even plotting this year's First Day of Football Chili recipe (read last year's); I think I'm ready for the cooler weather. Word on the street - or at least in the Farmer's Almanac - is that we are in for a brutally cold winter. I don't really mind cold, as long as we have snow to go with it. And it's been awhile since we had one of those mornings where you wake up, OSU is closed, there's a ton of snow, and you know there's no way you're going anywhere, and you can cuddle in bed all day. Will someone remind me of this post when I'm whining about the snow in a few months? Thanks.
But why am I wasting all of this time waxing philosophical? We have events to get to. It is, of course, Labor Day weekend, so take some time to thank the people who serve you. It's also the birthday of yours truly! And, most of all, for a lot of you out there, it's the weekend with the first OSU football game. Please don't park in my off-street parking.
Okay! Let's get on with the events! You can tell the summer is at an end; all of the summer music concerts in parks are either over or ending this week. *sigh* As always, if you have an event, please email me.
- This weekend is one of the premier eating festivals: Greek festival (I haven't been since I began this website, but you can read Columbus Foodie's account of last year's). Greek festival, which takes place at the Greek Orthodox church in the Short North this Friday through Monday, celebrates all things Greek: there's dancing and all that, but mostly, there's food. And it's good food. More lamb and filo than you can shake a stick at. Admission is $4, click on the link above for more info.
- It's a busy weekend in the Short North - of course, this Saturday is Gallery Hop, with the 9pm lighting of the arches being the main event. Hopping takes place between 6pm and 10pm.
- Saturday marks opening day for the Ohio Rennaissance Festival, which goes on and on until the late October. I'm sure there will be lots of corsets, jousting, and turkey legs to be had by all. I probably have a few friends from college who will be hanging out there (we English majors, a silly lot all). The Ren Fest takes place in Harveysburg, Ohio, which is right in the middle of Columbus, Dayton, and Cincinnati. Admission is $17, and group and discount tickets are available online.
- This weekend is the grand opening for a new piano/jazz club in Downtown Columbus, James 88. As a server in Columbus, people are constantly asking me where they can go to see live music, so this sounds like a pretty cool joint. Let me know if you go, will ya?
- Monday is the Upper Arlington Arts festival at Northam Park (corner of Northam & Tremont rds in Upper Arlington). There will be lots of art, of course, as well as music and an art area for the kids. Admission is free; call 614.583.5310 for more information.
- Tomorrow, August 30th, is the Arthritis Foundation's Wine & Dine event at the Convention Center. Tickets are $75, and there is always lots of food and wine.
- Head down to riverfront ampitheater this Friday for a special BalletMet performance beginning at 8pm - take a picnic! There will also be a special exhibition of WaterFire on the Mile.
- Friday afternoons at Whole Foods, you can enjoy special beer and wine tastings, along with dishes prepared to match, for $5. This event, which seems like a great alternative to the traditional Happy Hour, takes place every Friday from 5 - 7pm. Tonight's wine tasting will feature the wines of the Greek Isles ($35, 6:30pm) Click through to their calender for more information.
- Cooking classes at Sur la Table are: Essential knife skills next Wednesday, September 5th at 6:30pm ($65) and a children's cooking class next Saturday, September 8th, will show kids how to cook healthy dinners at 10:30 am ($45). Click through to their calender or call 614.473.12211 to sign up. Classes require advance payment, etc.
- The Williams-Sonoma store at Easton offers free cooking demonstrations every Sunday morning at 11am. Sounds like fun! Call for more details: 614.476.2957
- Yet another thing I keep meaning to do is go to the Wilds. Saturdays through September, you can visit the Wilds for a special "Sunset Safari." For $60, you can enjoy a buffet dinner and a personally guided tour, along with special visits to the cranes and rhinos. Please visit the Wilds' website for more information.
- This weekend (Thursday, Friday and Saturday), you can see the Actors' Theatre Groups's performance of Taming of the Shrew at Schiller Park in German Village. Take a blanket and a picnic and your date! Performances take place at 8pm. More info.
- Of course, there are some great ongoing events - Blooms & Butterflies at the Franklin Park Conservatory. It's the last weekend! Go!!
- Continuing also is Big Bugs! at Inniswood park. Artist David Rogers uses natural materials to make these 10 foot ants, butterflies, and other bugs. Click to their website for more information.
- Monday is the Ohio Green Living Fayre at Flying J Farm, which will be a great time to get out and visit a farm without having to go through a tour or bore the kids. You can learn about sustainable practices including building a solar oven, bio diesel, and even straw bale builing. The event takes place from 11am - 6pm (click for the schedule). By the way, Flying J farm supplies all sorts of local goods, from meat to maple syrup to wheat, so for those of you looking to stock up for the winter, you might want to check out their market. Click above for more information.
